Eightband Butterflyfish

ID points

• Eight thin, evenly spaced black vertical bands on a pale yellow ground
• Small, almost round body with a short snout
• Found almost only among live staghorn coral

Basics

Family

Chaetodontidae

Length

10–14 cm

Depth

1-20 m

Regions

Indo-Pacific reefs

Distribution

Indo-Pacific coral reefs

Habitat

Staghorn coral thickets in shallow water

Diet

Coral polyps

Easily confused with

ButterflyfishFlattened disc-shaped body with a protruding snoutRaccoon ButterflyfishA black and white eye band, like the mask of a raccoonBannerfishThe fourth dorsal spine drawn out into a very long white banner

Fun fact

Eight neat vertical bars run the length of the body, making it one of the most orderly patterned members of the butterflyfish family.

More in this family

• Copperband Butterflyfish
• Foureye Butterflyfish
• Lemon Butterflyfish
• Longnose Butterflyfish
• Saddleback Butterflyfish
• Teardrop Butterflyfish